Reuniting with a former student.

August 6, 2008 at 7:43 PM

Last week I had the opportunity to help one of my former students prepare pieces to play for a wedding. This gal was one of my moms private students for years, and my student at the high school I teach at. She was in my orchestra for 4 years. I had helped her pick out her violin and bow, which she still has, (and plays sometimes,) but she is a chemist as her profession. We had such a ball. She kept apologizing for being so rusty, but the more she played, the better she sounded--- almost like she did in high school(she was my concertmaster for 2 years). She and I are going to continue to get together to play duets and have lessons when both our schedules can work out. It almost made me cry when she told me how much I had done for her, and how much she missed playing. I told her I would play with her or help her anytime. It really is true, what they say about teachers--you do touch lives forever. After she graduated, I honestly thought I would never see or hear from her again. What a great treat during a really stinky week to have her contact me to help her, and to see me. I just LOVE these kids!!

Last year I was able to contact my first teacher through this site. I hadn't had any contact with her for 20 years. It was a thrill for me to chat with her over e-mail. However unfair it is, in my mind she has been immortalized and exalted. I loved her with all my heart. I used to think I had tricked her into thinking I was a "real person"...someone who was really important. I think of her often and she will always be special to me. Because of my relationship with her, I am constantly reminded of the responsibility I have to not only teach my students fine skills but love and respect them for who they are and who they can become.

Annette said, "Because of my relationship with her, I am constantly reminded of the responsibility I have to not only teach my students fine skills but love and respect them for who they are and who they can become." I agree so strongly. Teachers probably impact kids' minds more than any adults except parents. It is important to treat everyone with love and respect (like a "real person"), but especially young people, whose minds and hearts are especially open to influences which will last for their whole lives. A teacher frequently doesn't know what a kid's home environment is like, but it is very possible that the kid is being taught that they are worthless or worse, and the teacher's good treatment of them is very, very important. I know that the last sentence I wrote is true because I was one of those kids.